Former Bharat cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra criticized off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for what he sees as a lack of creativity in his bowling performances during the first two Tests against England. Chopra expressed disappointment in Ashwin’s performance, pointing out that despite picking up nine wickets in two Tests, Ashwin hasn’t managed to produce notable figures like four or five-wicket hauls. He compared Ashwin unfavorably to England’s Tom Hartley, who has 14 wickets in the series so far, including a seven-wicket haul in the first Test. Chopra emphasized the need for adaptability, especially on batting-friendly pitches, suggesting that Ashwin needs to show more imagination when faced with aggressive opposition batsmen.
Chopra elaborated on his critique, noting that Ashwin’s experience and nearing milestone of 500 wickets should have equipped him to handle diverse pitch conditions better. However, Chopra feels that Ashwin’s performance in the ongoing series hasn’t lived up to expectations, attributing it partly to his familiarity with predominantly spin-friendly conditions and lack of adaptability to flatter pitches.
In other cricket news, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the remaining three Tests against England. Star batter Virat Kohli will continue to miss the series due to personal reasons, extending his absence from the first two Tests. Joining the squad are Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar, while the participation of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja depends on their fitness. Mohammed Shami remains sidelined due to injury, and pacer Akash Deep has been included in the squad.
The upcoming matches of the series are scheduled as follows: the third Test will begin on February 15 in Rajkot, followed by the fourth Test in Ranchi on February 23, and the final Test in Dharamsala starting from March 7. With the series currently tied at 1-1, India suffered a 28-run defeat in the first Test in Hyderabad but bounced back with a 106-run victory in the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
The squad for the remaining Tests includes Rohit Sharma as captain, with Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain, along with a mix of experienced and new faces including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Dhruv Jurel among others.
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